Sleeping sofa and chair



Jan. 28, 1941. E. F. REESE SLEEPING SOFA AND CHAIR Filed April 4, 1938 Patented Jan. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLEEPING SOFA AND CHAIR Edward F. Reese, St. Paul, Minn.

Application April 4, 1938, Serial No. 199,915

3 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful construction of so-called easy chairs and davenports or sofas and is preferably designated a sleeping sofa and chair.

The invention embodies certain construction such as to provide in the right and left arm rest frames certain extensible panel and storage rack means accessible to the occupant said panel and rack construction comprising exteriorly a closure 10 for each side.

Other objects and advantages of my device are hereinafter fully set forth and the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective front elevation of a socalled easy-chair type of my invention in which the head rest members C are omitted.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view corresponding to Fig. l but showing both side receptacles in ex- 20 tended outward position.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a container member of the tiltable type in extended outer position and seated pivotally in the base of an arm frame.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation near the rear end 2 and looking forwardly.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of an arm rest frame, showing the preferred construction in which the rear of the frame is inclined upwardly rearwardly.

30 Referring to the drawing by reference numerals, my device has been illustrated mainly in the form of an easy chair but the principles of its construction are adaptable to longer seating devices such as a sofa.

35 As a chair the preferred construction comprises right and left upright arm rest frames 4 and 5 respectively each with a front foot piece 2 and a rear foot piece 2R, each said arm frame formed with an outwardly opening recess 6 nor- 40 mally occupied by a boxlike receptacle the outer wall of which comprises a lid or panel 1 completely closing the pocket when the receptacle is pocketed (see Fig. 1) and thus presenting a plain exterior surface, as will hereinafter be fully de- 45 scribed. Said panel is of a shape conforming to the contour of the side arm frame, its lower edge being shorter than its top edge and its rear edge inclined to correspond to the incline of the rear end of the frame.

50 The arm rest members are retained in proper transversely spaced parallel relation to each other on the opposite end parts of a base board I to which the bottom 4B5B of the arm rests are removably attached by bolts IB accessible from Q5 underneath, as in Fig, 4, the base board being (Cl. 155-138) I pocket H in each of which is housed and con- 10 cealed a foot rest l2.

The box-like side arm receptacle comprises integrally of panel 1 the end boards 1A, inner board 1B parallel to board 1, base 1C extending inwardly from panel I in spaced parallel relation to the bottom edge of the panel. Said upwardly open box-like structure may be arranged with any suitable inside ledges or compartments, etc. ID

is a top board of such size as to cover the upper opening of the receptacle, or it may be up-ended and slipped down parallel to inside surface of panel 1 into a pocket formed between the panel 1 and a fixed inner board 1P parallel to panel I (see Fi 3).

Referring now to the right and left receptacles housed in the right and left arm-frames, the lower parts of each said frame are constructed to resemble a shallow, elongated and upwardly open box designated B as a whole (see Figs. 3 and 4), the upper edge parts of the outer wall thereof (B provided with an upwardly exposed groove B for a purpose presently to be described.

When either receptacle is closed its outer panel I as stated comprises a complete closure for a side of the device extending downwardly outside of and covering member B the lower edge of the panel 1 at this time being parallel to bottom of base I. The entire receptacle is pivotally suspended by a pair of flat metal arms 2| always in inclined plane, the upper end of the arm 2| permanently, pivotally connected at 22, one in the upper part of the front Wall of the recess of the arm and the other in the rear wall. When the receptacle is closed these arms extend in a downward and outward incline (see Fig. 4) their lower ends being pivotally connected to the respective adjacent front and rear walls of the receptacle which is thus suspended in closed position.

When an occupant desires to open either side receptacle he simply engages the upper edge part of panel I at about the center, and pulls outwardly. This causes the entire receptacle to rise while its upper part moves out, because of the arcuate swing of a pair of suspension links 2|, the lower edge of the panel 1 moving upwardly sleeping chair or sofa.

until it reaches the top of ledg B at which time the inward bearing tendency of said lower edge will cause it to drop into and be seated in a groove B in the top edge of the ledge B when the entire receptacle will of course be firmly but removably supported in the angular plane shown in dotted lines of Fig. 4 and in full lines of Figs, 2 and 3.

When thus positioned the upper end of the receptacle will be in horizontally registering plane with the top of the chair arm 4 and the interior of the receptacle is accessible or its open top may be closed by the movable board lD previously described.

To close the side panel and its receptacle the operator merely exerts an upward pull on the upper part of panel 7 and the lower edge thereof becomes unseated from groove B and is moved outwardly until the panel is free to ride downwardly on the outer face of the board B as the entire receptacle and its panel drop back to closed position. t this point it will be readily seen that panel I may be of a size corresponding to contour of the arm rest frame and registers therewith horizontally when closed. The lower edge is shorter than the top edge because of rearwardly inclined rear end of the arm rest (or upward flare) and it will be readily understood that the lower edge of the panel when rising will have clearance to bear inwardly'and come to rest in groove B Said groove is longer (at its elevation) than the lower edge of the panel because of the gradual fiare or widening of the frame.

, Therefore the panel 1 is of such size as to completely cover the side of the arm rest when in lowered (closed) position.

It will nowbe readily understood that my improved device provides exceptional and varied facilities for persons to enjoy as a seating or Either or both of the receptacles may be opened and contents thereof availableto the occupant. Board 7D may be set on horizontal plane providing a surface for writing implements, medicine, refreshments, books, etc. The interior arrangement of the receptacle is optional and' may comprise several small shelves, so-called pigeon holes, larger spaces for storage of books, magazines, newspapers, etc.

I claim:

1. In a chair of the class described including a base, a pair of upright arm rest frames of hollow construction and mounted in parallel spaced relation on said base; each said arm rest frame removably fixed on the base and provided with a side opening with a lower edge in a horizontal plane at a predetermined height over the base, a receptacle suspended within each said opening and including an outer panel conforming in shape to the contour of the arm rest and extending downwardly While in vertical position to the lower edge of said base, an upwardly open box-like structure secured to the inner side of said panel with its bottom wall in fixed spaced relation parallel to the lower edge of the panel, a pair of link members at each end of said box and each pivotally connected at its lower end to an end wall of the box and its upper end pivotally secured within the arm rest opening inwardly of said first described pivot, to cause the weight of the receptacle to bear inwardly and draw the lower end of the panel into the opening to bear on the bottom wall when the panel is raised.

2. The structure specified in claim 1, in which said lower horizontal part of the side opening in the arm rest comprises the upper edge of a fixed board in said arm rest member extending upwardly from the base, said edge provided with a groove throughout its length arranged to seat the lower edge of said exterior panel of the receptacle when it is raised upwardly and swung outwardly to an angular position such that the top part of the receptacle is in a horizontal plane coinciding with the top of the arm rest.

3. The structure specified in claim 1, in which said lower horizontal part of the side opening in the arm rest comprises the upper edge of a fixed board in said member and extending upwardly from the base, said edge provided with a groove throughout its length arranged to receive the lower edge of said receptacle panel whensaid panel is raised and swung. outwardly to an inclined plane position, a movable board arranged to be retained at the inner side of the panel, said board of a size to close the open, upper end of the box like structure in horizontalplane when the panel and its box member is extended in outer position as described.

EDWARD F. REESE. 

